https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/handwashing-brushedsuededsandwashed-silk Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:44:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/handwashing-brushedsuededsandwashed-silk#post-964493 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:40:58 +0000 Suz 964493@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, I put all my silks in the washing machine, on the hand wash cycle, with Woolite or similar soap,&nbsp;in cold water. And I hang to dry, and then iron them.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have never actually had a problem doing this. Sometimes I will worry, before ironing, that the texture of the item may have changed.&nbsp;</p> <p>After ironing, it always looks the same as it was. Presto.&nbsp;</p> <p>This has been true for all the silks I have ever owned except for RAW silk. (In the old days before I had a fancy washer I did this by hand, of course.)&nbsp;</p> <p>I have definitely done it successfully with the sueded "washable" silk. In fact, a top made of that stuff also used to end up in the dryer from time to time. Never a problem.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/handwashing-brushedsuededsandwashed-silk#post-964409 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:41:40 +0000 biscuitsmom 964409@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've just left it to the pros also.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/handwashing-brushedsuededsandwashed-silk#post-964408 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:36:57 +0000 Isis 964408@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've only used Dryell as a touchup between drycleaning on sandwashed silk. &nbsp;I've been too afraid of losing the texture with other methods! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/handwashing-brushedsuededsandwashed-silk#post-964395 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:24:52 +0000 Angie 964395@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I send all my silk to the cleaners, so I have no home washing tips to share. Thanks, Hannah. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/handwashing-brushedsuededsandwashed-silk#post-963822 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 00:52:42 +0000 Charmian 963822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've already found pretty good information on handwashing silk, which is basically summarized as "treat it like hair":&nbsp;lukewarm water, baby shampoo or similar, reduce friction (ie, swish/don't rub,&nbsp;roll in a towel/don't wring dry), lay flat to dry.</p> <p>This thread isn't about general techniques for washing silk, however.</p> <p>My question is specifically about preserving the brushed/sueded/sandwashed texture when you handwash your silk at home. &nbsp;Whenever I use water, the silk stiffens up, loses that soft downy hand,&nbsp;and stops draping as beautifully. &nbsp;I know I'm&nbsp;not causing permanent damage because I can always send the blouse to the cleaners and it will&nbsp;come back as good as new, so it's just a matter of technique/materials.</p> <p>Here's what I've tried:<br />-- tossing the wet blouse in the dryer for ~10 mins on low heat. &nbsp;I sweated buckets, thinking I was going to permanently damage the blouse. &nbsp;The result was more drapy than purely air-drying, but not as good as the cleaners.<br />-- brushing&nbsp;<i>both sides</i> of the air-dried cloth with a stiff brush (I stole my husband's&nbsp;a boars hair clothes brush, but I bet it's not the only option). &nbsp;Definitely better than the dryer: the hand is the same, but the drape isn't quite there.</p> <p>Any handwashers out there willing to chime in with their tips? </p>